In 1964 I visited a Mrs. Shiach, in Elgin, who was the widow of the head gillie at Ballindalloch on the Spey, for the purpose of buying her late husband's shotgun. Along with the gun she threw in a box of old fishing tackle which included a scissors type , brass and steel, fly tying vice.
Prior to this I had been tying flies using only my fingers as detailed in the 1952 edition of T.R. Henn's book "Practical Fly Tying".
The vice which I was given was made around 1890 by a company called HOLTZAPFFEL who made ornamental lathes, and the vices were a factory spin off. I understand queen Victoria owned such a vice.
This vice served me well for over 40 years until I graduated to a vice with a rotating head. I realized the old vice may be collectable, and so sent it to a Mullock & Madeley antique tackle auction in 2004. It sold for £190. That was my favorite vice!
